None, but some basic microeconomics and statistics is useful to fruitfully attend the course.
The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the economic analysis of topics related to human resources management within organizations. More specifically, students will have the chance to both apply some basic statistical and econometric methods to specific topics related to work organization within companies and to test with real-world data the main personnel economics theories.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1) understand the main economic determinants and impacts of different human resources policies within the firm, also considering the institutional context in which the firm operates; 2) define a research question related to personnel economics, identify and/or collect data to empirically answer this question and implement the empirical analysis; 3) provide some policy recommendations for both companies and policy makers at different levels (local, national and international).
This course is useful to both students who want to work in the HR department of companies and to students who want to pursue a career as economic analysts or consultants.
The course will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction to the empirical analysis in labor economics: Identification strategies, data types and collection, measurement issues.
2. Investment in skills: returns to education and the role of cognitive and non-cognitive skills.
3. Wage equation and sample selection
4. Differences in the labour market and discrimination
5. Incentives in organizations
6. Big Data and the role of HR analytics.
Frontal lectures supported by applied labs in which students will have the chance to put their hands on real-world data and to replicate some of the empirical studies discussed during lectures.
For attending students; empirical project (40% of the final mark) and final written test (60% of the final mark).
The empirical project will be evaluated on a 30-point scale; it can be carried out in small teams.
For non-attending students: final written test.
The final test will consist of 4 short questions and 2 or 3 open questions on the topics covered by the course. Each answer to the short questions will be evaluated on a 3-point scale and each open question will be evaluated on a 30-point scale. The final mark of the test will be a weighted average between the total score earned on short questions and the mean of the scores on open questions.
For attending students, a minimum score of 18/30 in both the empirical project and the written test is required to pass the course.
In case of provisions of the competent authority on containment and management of epidemiological emergency, the teaching may be subject to changes from what is declared in the syllabus in order to make the course and examinations in line with the regulations.